The Kelowna Flying Club (KFC) is pleased to announce that its first aircraft, a GrummanAA5B Tiger, has just arrived at Kelowna International Airport . It will be on display at theKFC clubhouse, 6135 Airport Way, from 5:00 pm on Tuesday 5 th September.Press and other visitors are welcome to come help celebrate this milestone inthe Club’s evolution.

Club President Dave McElroy said he’s delighted the organisation has made this acquisition.He expects it will lead to an increase in club members beyond the current 92.“People join flying clubs to fly, and we had not been in a position to provide an aircraftfor their use until now,” he said. “There is great enthusiasm in the club about this aircraft.It’s been financed by members, and others, who’ve loaned the club money to make thepurchase. And eighteen members have already signed onto the Flying Program and paidup for 12 hours of flying over the next year. We expect this number to quickly grow totwenty-five, which we’ve set as the maximum number of Flying Members for oneaircraft.”

The Grumman Tiger will be flown by club members who hold private pilot licenses andare keen to fly but do not want to make a larger financial outlay to purchase an aircraftthemselves. The Flying Program will be managed by Club Member Jim Hannibal andoverseen by the Flying Program Committee, chaired by Chad Gartly.The 1979 Grumman Tiger is arriving this week from Oshawa Airport. C-GVXY is a fourseat, single-engine aircraft powered by a 180 Horsepower Lycoming O-360 engine.Cruise speed is just under 140 knots (250 km/hr) and the aircraft’s range is about 500 nm(900 km).

The current Kelowna Flying Club has been in existence since 1984 and occupies abuilding near the north end of YLW. The KFC is also known as COPA Flight 36; it actsas the local presence of The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association. COPA is thenational voice of General Aviation, with more than 16,000 members from coast to coast.The KFC is active in the community and each year sponsors the COPA for Kids Eventwhich flies more than 150 youngsters between the ages of seven and seventeen in a singleday using members’ aircraft.

This year the KFC also hosted the COPA Annual Convention, Trade Show and AGM. Inlate June, more than 150 aircraft, 400 delegates and 700 members of the public descendedonto YLW to attend this signal event – the largest in COPA’s 80 year history.

This year the KFC also hosted the COPA Annual Convention, Trade Show and AGM. In late June, more than 150 aircraft, 400 delegates and 700 members of the public descended onto YLW to attend this signal event – the largest in COPA’s 80 year history.